photos by Tim Griffin

Dr. Dog has signed to Anti-Records (home of Os Mutantes), which will release the band's fifth record in early 2010. What does Dr. Dog guitarist-vocalist Scott McMicken have to say about that?

"Each album we've made was the best one we could have made at the time and I don't have any regrets," McMicken says. "But something has changed. We've never really recorded as a band before. We started as a recording project but over the years we've become a real band. We tour all the time and we have this certain place we fall into. And I think we're ready to use that as a reference point now"

This fall Dr. Dog will go on an extensive North American tour, with a select number of dates opened by NYC's own Jeffrey Lewis. No NYC dates yet though, but there are two in the band's hometown of Philly, and one pre-tour gig in Bethlehem, PA.

Bethlehem Musikfest is a music festival that runs from July 31st to August 9th and consists of more than 300 performances, most of which are free (Dr. Dog on August 3rd included). Pay shows at the fest include a stop on the Pat Benatar/Blondie/The Donnas tour (which has a free Coney Island show on August 13th) and a show with the B-52s (also playing NYC) and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

Dr. Dog's last NYC show was also a free one. It took place at the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn. We already posted a set of pictures from it. Now here's another one, along with the full lineup for the Bethlehem Musikfest and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Dr. Dog sign to Anti, playing Bethlehem Musikfest (lineup) & other places - 2009 tour dates & more Prospect Park pics "

photos by Chona Kasinger

"The Minnesota band which usually performs as 7-piece, was paired down to just Singer/guitarist Craig Minowa and cellist Sarah Young, along with Connie Minowa (who painted from behind them). Having never been all that impressed by their records, I was caught a bit off guard at just how good the band was live. Cloud Cult would fit very well with the Montreal music scene, which has always seemed to incorporate the ore experimental musical and performance ideas that Cloud Cult presented during their performance. Thoughout their set, Connie Minowa painted, what would slowly reveal itself as a hummingbird. As always, the band took bids for the painting, which one lucky fan took home for over $200." [NY Press]

That review is referring to Cloud Cult's show at Knitting Factory on the first night of CMJ (10/21). Their next NYC show will be with a full band (I think) and takes place at Bowery Ballroom on November 11th. Exit Clov and Mason Proper are opening. Tickets are still on sale.

They also have a show coming up in Bethlehem, PA - the same (hip?) town that David Byrne kicked off his current tour in. You can drive from NYC to Bethlehem in less than 2 hours. A few more KF pictures and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Cloud Cult - updated tour dates, a few CMJ pics"